GRS Honored by Local Publication and University

Shawn Folks • October 20, 2021

More than half of October has already come and gone. Soon, the holidays will be upon us and busyness will ensue. It’s hard to believe 2021 is coming to an end soon!


While we have continued to stay busy with Hurricane Idea recovery work, we were also honored with two recognitions this month. First, on October 5th, the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report named us one of the Best Places to Work for the second year in a row. In addition, GRS was a 2021 LSU One Hundred honoree


Best Places to Work Again

First, we were recently named as one of the 2021 Best Places to Work in Baton Rouge. The awards program is a project of the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, the Greater Baton Rouge SHRM, an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management and Best Companies Group.


This survey and awards program was initially created in 2014 to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Baton Rouge, benefiting its economy, its workforce and businesses.  


To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:

  • Have at least 15 employees working in Baton Rouge;
  • Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business;
  • Be a publicly or privately held business or government entity/municipality
  • Have a facility in Baton Rouge; and
  • Must be in business a minimum of 1 year. 


Companies from across the region entered the two-part process to determine the Best Places to Work in Baton Rouge. The first part consisted of evaluating each company's workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Baton Rouge and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.  


The publication was released at an awards breakfast that took place on Monday, October 5th


First Timers for LSU One Hundred

Furthermore, we have earned a ranking on Louisiana State University’s 2021 LSU100 list of fastest growing LSU graduate owned or led companies. A local firm accounting firm, Postlethwaite & Netterville, calculated each company’s compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past three years to generate the ranking. In addition to celebrating the success of LSU graduates, the LSU 100 and LSU ROARING10 provide a forum to pass lessons on to the next generation of LSU entrepreneurs. In its first year making the list, GRS earned the rank of 4th


Me, our founders, my parents, Ellen and Chunky Folks, my wife, Jamie Folks, Marcie Richardson, Bill Boeneke, and Mark Paradise attended the celebration event that took place on Friday, October 15th


…It’s a GUARANTEE!

Although we are thrilled by receiving the awards, we will continue to aim high and strive for even more success. I have no doubt that our team at GRS will work efficiently to expand upon our growth even further. 


Our team of dedicated professionals understands that property damage does not have timeframe. As always, we are available 24/7, which isn’t just a number, it’s a guarantee. If your property has experienced storm, water, fire or other damage, give our team a call at 1-800-349-HELP (4357), email info@guaranteerestoration.net or visit our website at www.GuaranteeRestoration.com.


Shawn Folks is the Chief Executive Officer at Guarantee Restoration, where he has served in this position since 2013. To connect with him, visit LinkedIn or send him an email.

Commercial Property Fire Damage
By Zack Klein October 15, 2025
Learn the most common causes of commercial property fires in the Gulf South and key steps to reduce risks and protect your business.
By Christina Mullins October 8, 2025
Ahh, October. It’s hard to fathom that we’re already on the brink of Halloween — and then, you know how the rest of the year goes. Before long, we’ll be preparing for our last full company meeting, Family Day, and our Thanksmas celebrations. The end of 2025 will be here before we know it! That being said — no matter what the busy season brings — when it comes to property damage emergencies, our team is always there for you. Meet the Team | Whitney Hampton Every month, I have the opportunity to showcase one of our awesome team members. For October, we are excited to introduce you to Whitney Hampton , one of our Gulfport Business Development Representatives. Gulf Coast Roots & Family Life Whitney was born and raised in New Orleans but has split her time between Louisiana and Mississippi throughout her life. She later moved to Gulfport, where she graduated from high school. As a young adult, she lived in Bossier City, LA. Now, she is back on the coast in Biloxi, where she raises her two children, Kohen and Kobi, with her husband. Education & Professional Background Whitney graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Marketing — SMTTT! This December, she’ll be finishing her master’s in marketing with a specialization in Digital Strategy. Before joining our team in December 2023, she worked in property management. Whitney started in leasing, then was promoted to Community Manager, where she received the Best Marketing Award in 2023 . Life Outside of Work Personally, when she is not working, Whitney is usually busy with “The Adventures of Kohen and Kobi.” They love spending their weekends exploring new places, such as the science museum, zoo, or splash pad. Staying active and making fun memories together is what she enjoys most. Sports are a big part of the Hampton household. They are big Philadelphia Eagles fans — GO BIRDS! They also love the Florida Gators and have attended many games in Gainesville. Saturdays and Sundays are definitely football days in their house.
Fire Damage to a Commercial Property
By Shawn Folks October 1, 2025
Learn how fire damage affects Gulf Coast businesses and how professional restoration services help minimize loss and restore operations quickly.
VIEW ALL BLOGS